PC Magazine February 2015

In this month's issue of PC Magazine: Meet the people populating—and fighting—the Internet's mysterious Dark Web; learn why 2015 may be the year we finally solve net neutrality and how connected stadiums may be destroying your favorite sports; use devices and services to get into the best shape of your life; and much more!

If the Internet of today is more like a brightly lit, welcoming marketplace than it used to be, it still has a seedy, shadowy back alley. Google doesn't track it and most people don't know about it, but it's there, and a place where you can get anything—from drugs to illegal weapons and much, much worse—for the right price. In this month's issue of PC Magazine, Max Eddy provides a startling look at this Dark Web, diving headfirst into it to discover exactly what and where it is, how it works, and who's mapping and policing it. And we also show why the Dark Web, dangerous though it may be, might just point the way toward a more secure Internet.

We also tackle other big topics: net neutrality, for example. The federal government has finally decided to take up the issue, and decide just what rights service providers and content creators have to dictate what you can access and how quickly you can access it, and what our elected officials decide over the course of the next month could reshape the online landscape for years, if not decades, to come. Chloe Albanesius dissects the complicated issue and examines its history and the current arguments from all sides, so you'll be armed with all the information you need to understand what it means for you.

If you're reading PC Magazine, you're obviously a big fan of technology. Do you also like sports? It might not seem as if there are many natural crossovers between the two, but that's slowly changing. More and more sports venues are getting more and more connected, giving fans a plethora of ways to link up with each other, with experts, and even with the teams themselves during the game. But what impact is this having on the players and their scores, and will things get worse before they get better? Join Damon Poeter for an in-depth look at how high may be destroying the games we love—or taking them to thrilling new heights.

Speaking of new heights, space exploration is getting a major boost from a new "race" of machines called SuperBots. They may sound scary, but these creations are truly remarkable, capable of analyzing their environment and reconfiguring themselves into new shapes capable of overcoming any intergalactic challenge they encounter. We go one-on-one with their adventurous creator, who details how these SuperBots work and why they'll make all the difference as we move ever closer toward the stars.

Don't give up on your New Year's resolution just yet: Just because it's February doesn't mean it's too late to put yourself on the path to better health. If you need to drop a few pounds, be sure to check out organizational expert Jill Duffy's roundup of the devices and online services that can help you lose all the weight you don't want, and finally get into the best shape of your life.

The streaming music Spotify puts the biggest chart-toppers of all time just a mouse click away, but are you using the software to its fullest? If not, Evan Dashevsky's exhaustive collection of tips will turn you into a song-streaming samurai in no time.

Finally, social networks like Facebook and Twitter can be informative (and a lot of fun), but dealing with the other personalities you find on them isn't always easy. Alex Colon, our in-house tech etiquette guru, has the advice you need to make (and keep) your friends on all these networks, no matter the situation (even if you're an Android partisan stuck in a forum full of Apple lovers).

Plus, as always, PC Magazine is loaded with essential tips, expert opinions, tech news, and Lab-tested reviews of the hottest and most innovative products you can buy.

About the Author

Matthew Murray got his humble start leading a technology-sensitive life in elementary school, where he struggled to satisfy his ravenous hunger for computers, computer games, and writing book reports in Integer BASIC. He earned his B.A. in Dramatic Writing at Western Washington University, where he also minored in Web design and German. He has been... See Full Bio

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